US20120273057A1 - Biodegradable shower weep hole gasket - Google Patents
Biodegradable shower weep hole gasket Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US20120273057A1 US20120273057A1 US13/539,313 US201213539313A US2012273057A1 US 20120273057 A1 US20120273057 A1 US 20120273057A1 US 201213539313 A US201213539313 A US 201213539313A US 2012273057 A1 US2012273057 A1 US 2012273057A1
- Authority
- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- gasket
- drain
- shower
- weep holes
- shower drain
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Granted
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Classifications
-
- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E03—WATER SUPPLY; SEWERAGE
- E03F—SEWERS; CESSPOOLS
- E03F5/00—Sewerage structures
- E03F5/04—Gullies inlets, road sinks, floor drains with or without odour seals or sediment traps
- E03F5/041—Accessories therefor
-
- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E03—WATER SUPPLY; SEWERAGE
- E03F—SEWERS; CESSPOOLS
- E03F5/00—Sewerage structures
- E03F5/04—Gullies inlets, road sinks, floor drains with or without odour seals or sediment traps
- E03F5/0407—Floor drains for indoor use
- E03F5/0409—Devices for preventing seepage around the floor drain
-
- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
- Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
- Y10T137/00—Fluid handling
- Y10T137/0318—Processes
- Y10T137/0402—Cleaning, repairing, or assembling
Definitions
- the present invention generally relates to methods of installing shower drains. Installation methods known in the art have a tendency of clogging the shower drain's weep holes and inhibit their functionality.
- the present invention comprises a method of preventing material from clogging shower drain weep holes.
- a gasket for preventing material from clogging the shower drain weep holes is utilized during floor installation.
- the gasket is comprised of a dissolving porous ring shaped material that covers the shower drain weep holes during floor installation.
- the shower drain wall and flange surface maintain substantial uniform contact with the gasket.
- the gasket is composed of biodegradable material that dissolves and seeps through the shower drain weep holes. Three-dimensionally, the material is shaped to form a concaved curve bounded by substantially perpendicular sides to encircle the shower drain. In another preferred embodiment, the gasket is approximately 7 ⁇ 8 ths inch high by 5/2 ths inch wide at an inner diameter of 31/5 ths inch, wherein the gasket comprises nipples disposed angularly between the bottom surface and the inner surface of the gasket for plugging the shower drain weep holes.
- Biodegradable materials are utilized, chosen from any biodegradable material characterized by dissolvability, to comprise a shower drain weep hole gasket wherein the gasket is resilient to moisture introduced as material is floated during floor installation.
- the biodegradable gasket eventually disintegrates due to the introduction of moisture coming through the adjacent floor covering once the drain is in use, upon which the disintegrated components of the gasket pass through drain weep holes.
- FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a shower drain and uninstalled biodegradable shower drain weep holes gasket.
- FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a shower drain installed with a biodegradable shower drain weep holes gasket.
- FIG. 3 shows multiple nipple section views of the biodegradable shower drain weep holes gasket.
- FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an uninstalled biodegradable shower drain weep holes gasket.
- FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an uninstalled biodegradable shower drain weep holes gasket.
- the gasket 10 prevents material from clogging the weep holes 14 of a shower drain 12 wherein the gasket 10 comprises a dissolving porous ring-shaped material that plugs the shower drain 12 weep holes 14 during floor installation.
- the shower drain 12 outer wall 16 and flange surface 18 maintain substantial uniform contact with the gasket 10 .
- the gasket 10 is composed of a biodegradable material, which will dissolve and seep through the shower drain 12 weep holes 14 .
- This gasket has a concaved curve bounded by substantially perpendicular sides to encircle the shower drain 12 .
- the gasket 10 is approximately 7 ⁇ 8 ths inch high by 5/2 ths inch wide at an inner diameter of 31/5 ths inch, wherein notches (shown in FIG. 2 ) are disposed on the bottom surface to accommodate fixed drain bolts 20 .
- the gasket 10 is shown installed on a shower drain 12 in a uniform contacting manner with the shower drain 12 outer wall 16 and flange surface to prevent weep hole 14 clogging.
- the gasket 10 comprises notches 22 disposed on the bottom surface of the gasket to accommodate fixed drain bolts.
- FIG. 3 multiple section views of the gasket 10 are shown in a preferred embodiment composed of a biodegradable material, chosen from any biodegradable material characterized by dissolvability.
- biodegradable products may include corn starch, sugar, salt, biodegradable paper and/or cardboard and others available.
- the gasket 10 is resilient to moisture introduced as material is floated, but eventually disintegrates due to the introduction of moisture coming through the adjacent floor covering.
- drain plugs 14 for plugging shower drain weep holes, wherein the drain plugs 14 comprise substantially cylindrical extrusions disposed angularly between the gaskets 10 bottom surface 30 and its inner radial surface 32 .
- FIG. 4 illustrates an embodiment of the gasket 10 wherein the gasket's inner surface is in continuous contact with the shower drain 12 outer wall 16 and extends above the shower drain 12 .
- the gasket 10 face above the shower drain 12 is enclosed to form a drain cover 40 to prevent foreign materials from entering the shower drain during construction or floor installation, and which may be removed at a later time.
- the preferred embodiment of the gasket 10 shown in FIG. 4-5 further comprises a channel 42 , disposed on the bottom surface of the gasket between the substantially perpendicular inner and outer sides of the gasket 10 .
- the channel 42 accommodates for varying orientations of fixed drain bolts 20 around the flange surface 18 .
- the preferred embodiment of the gasket 10 shown in FIG. 4-5 further comprises a weep hole cavity 44 , for covering shower drain weep holes, between the gaskets 10 bottom surface 30 and its inner radial surface 32 extending around the inner circumference of the gasket 10 .
- the weep hole cavity 44 accommodates for varying orientations of shower drain weep holes 14 around the shower drain 12 . It should be noted that some shower drains weep holes are disposed on the edges of the shower drain.
- the preferred embodiment of the invention also serves to cover shower drain weep holes disposed on the edges of shower drains.
- FIG. 5 illustrates an alternate embodiment of the gasket 10 shown in FIG. 4 wherein the drain cover 40 is absent.
Abstract
Description
- This application is a continuation in part of non-provisional patent application Ser. No. 12/401,544 filed on Mar. 10, 2009, which is currently pending. The prior application is incorporated herein by reference.
- Not Applicable
- Not Applicable
- Portions of the disclosure of this patent document contain material that is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever.
- The present invention generally relates to methods of installing shower drains. Installation methods known in the art have a tendency of clogging the shower drain's weep holes and inhibit their functionality.
- Servicing clogged shower weep holes is a complicated process wherein the method of reaching the weep holes depends on individual plumbers. In any event no method currently exists for unclogging weep holes without considerable effort. Therefore, preventing materials from clogging the shower drain weep holes altogether remains unaddressed.
- It is therefore the object of the present invention to address the problem of preventing materials from clogging the shower drain weep holes by plugging the holes with a dissolving porous gasket during shower drain floor installation so that the gasket decomposes by action of moisture seeping through the adjacent floor covering once the drain is in use.
- The present invention comprises a method of preventing material from clogging shower drain weep holes. A gasket for preventing material from clogging the shower drain weep holes is utilized during floor installation. The gasket is comprised of a dissolving porous ring shaped material that covers the shower drain weep holes during floor installation. In a preferred embodiment, the shower drain wall and flange surface maintain substantial uniform contact with the gasket.
- The gasket is composed of biodegradable material that dissolves and seeps through the shower drain weep holes. Three-dimensionally, the material is shaped to form a concaved curve bounded by substantially perpendicular sides to encircle the shower drain. In another preferred embodiment, the gasket is approximately ⅞ths inch high by 5/2ths inch wide at an inner diameter of 31/5ths inch, wherein the gasket comprises nipples disposed angularly between the bottom surface and the inner surface of the gasket for plugging the shower drain weep holes.
- Biodegradable materials are utilized, chosen from any biodegradable material characterized by dissolvability, to comprise a shower drain weep hole gasket wherein the gasket is resilient to moisture introduced as material is floated during floor installation. The biodegradable gasket eventually disintegrates due to the introduction of moisture coming through the adjacent floor covering once the drain is in use, upon which the disintegrated components of the gasket pass through drain weep holes.
-
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a shower drain and uninstalled biodegradable shower drain weep holes gasket. -
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a shower drain installed with a biodegradable shower drain weep holes gasket. -
FIG. 3 shows multiple nipple section views of the biodegradable shower drain weep holes gasket. -
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an uninstalled biodegradable shower drain weep holes gasket. -
FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an uninstalled biodegradable shower drain weep holes gasket. - Referring to
FIG. 1 a gasket is shown and described prior to installation. Thegasket 10 prevents material from clogging theweep holes 14 of ashower drain 12 wherein thegasket 10 comprises a dissolving porous ring-shaped material that plugs the shower drain 12weep holes 14 during floor installation. In a preferred embodiment, the shower drain 12outer wall 16 andflange surface 18 maintain substantial uniform contact with thegasket 10. - Still referring to
FIG. 1 , thegasket 10 is composed of a biodegradable material, which will dissolve and seep through theshower drain 12weep holes 14. This gasket has a concaved curve bounded by substantially perpendicular sides to encircle theshower drain 12. In yet another preferred embodiment, thegasket 10 is approximately ⅞ths inch high by 5/2ths inch wide at an inner diameter of 31/5ths inch, wherein notches (shown inFIG. 2 ) are disposed on the bottom surface to accommodatefixed drain bolts 20. - Referring to
FIG. 2 , thegasket 10 is shown installed on ashower drain 12 in a uniform contacting manner with theshower drain 12outer wall 16 and flange surface to preventweep hole 14 clogging. Thegasket 10 comprisesnotches 22 disposed on the bottom surface of the gasket to accommodate fixed drain bolts. - Referring to
FIG. 3 , multiple section views of thegasket 10 are shown in a preferred embodiment composed of a biodegradable material, chosen from any biodegradable material characterized by dissolvability. For example, biodegradable products may include corn starch, sugar, salt, biodegradable paper and/or cardboard and others available. During floor installation thegasket 10 is resilient to moisture introduced as material is floated, but eventually disintegrates due to the introduction of moisture coming through the adjacent floor covering. - Still referring to the preferred embodiment of the
gasket 10 shown inFIG. 3 , comprisesdrain plugs 14 for plugging shower drain weep holes, wherein thedrain plugs 14 comprise substantially cylindrical extrusions disposed angularly between thegaskets 10bottom surface 30 and its innerradial surface 32. -
FIG. 4 illustrates an embodiment of thegasket 10 wherein the gasket's inner surface is in continuous contact with theshower drain 12outer wall 16 and extends above theshower drain 12. Thegasket 10 face above theshower drain 12 is enclosed to form adrain cover 40 to prevent foreign materials from entering the shower drain during construction or floor installation, and which may be removed at a later time. - The preferred embodiment of the
gasket 10 shown inFIG. 4-5 , further comprises achannel 42, disposed on the bottom surface of the gasket between the substantially perpendicular inner and outer sides of thegasket 10. Thechannel 42 accommodates for varying orientations offixed drain bolts 20 around theflange surface 18. - The preferred embodiment of the
gasket 10 shown inFIG. 4-5 , further comprises aweep hole cavity 44, for covering shower drain weep holes, between thegaskets 10bottom surface 30 and its innerradial surface 32 extending around the inner circumference of thegasket 10. Theweep hole cavity 44 accommodates for varying orientations of showerdrain weep holes 14 around theshower drain 12. It should be noted that some shower drains weep holes are disposed on the edges of the shower drain. The preferred embodiment of the invention also serves to cover shower drain weep holes disposed on the edges of shower drains. -
FIG. 5 illustrates an alternate embodiment of thegasket 10 shown inFIG. 4 wherein thedrain cover 40 is absent. - All features disclosed in this specification, including any accompanying claim, abstract, and drawings, may be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each feature disclosed is one example only of a generic series of equivalent or similar features.
- Any element in a claim that does not explicitly state “means for” performing a specified function, or “step for” performing a specific function, is not to be interpreted as a “means” or “step” clause as specified in 35 U.S.C. §112, paragraph 6. In particular, the use of “step of” in the claims herein is not intended to invoke the provisions of 35 U.S.C. §112, paragraph 6.
- Although preferred embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, various modifications and substitutions may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, it is to be understood that the present invention has been described by way of illustration and not limitation.
Claims (13)
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US13/539,313 US9080324B2 (en) | 2009-03-10 | 2012-06-30 | Biodegradable shower weep hole gasket |
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US12/401,544 US20100229297A1 (en) | 2009-03-10 | 2009-03-10 | Biodegradable Shower Weep Hole Gasket |
US13/539,313 US9080324B2 (en) | 2009-03-10 | 2012-06-30 | Biodegradable shower weep hole gasket |
Related Parent Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US12/401,544 Continuation-In-Part US20100229297A1 (en) | 2009-03-10 | 2009-03-10 | Biodegradable Shower Weep Hole Gasket |
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Publication Number | Publication Date |
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US20120273057A1 true US20120273057A1 (en) | 2012-11-01 |
US9080324B2 US9080324B2 (en) | 2015-07-14 |
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Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
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US13/539,313 Active 2030-04-27 US9080324B2 (en) | 2009-03-10 | 2012-06-30 | Biodegradable shower weep hole gasket |
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Cited By (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
WO2014186770A1 (en) * | 2013-05-16 | 2014-11-20 | Infra-Tect, Llc | Beveled insert for facilitating coupling pipes |
USD749707S1 (en) * | 2013-02-07 | 2016-02-16 | Kaiping Xinmingguang Hardware Products Co., Ltd. | Floor drain |
EP3031990A1 (en) * | 2014-12-11 | 2016-06-15 | HL Hutterer & Lechner GmbH | Floor drain |
Families Citing this family (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US20230011280A1 (en) * | 2021-07-08 | 2023-01-12 | Serge Ouzilleau | Flow Restrictor for protecting weep holes in Shower drains |
Citations (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US2394964A (en) * | 1943-04-15 | 1946-02-12 | Felix E Wormser | Drain fitting |
US2743786A (en) * | 1954-04-29 | 1956-05-01 | Lawrence N Boosey | Testing plug for floor drain |
US5216757A (en) * | 1992-07-06 | 1993-06-08 | Joshua Dorkin | Knot simulating neck tie clasp |
US8813273B2 (en) * | 2004-09-17 | 2014-08-26 | Dlp Limited | Waste water outlet unit |
-
2012
- 2012-06-30 US US13/539,313 patent/US9080324B2/en active Active
Patent Citations (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US2394964A (en) * | 1943-04-15 | 1946-02-12 | Felix E Wormser | Drain fitting |
US2743786A (en) * | 1954-04-29 | 1956-05-01 | Lawrence N Boosey | Testing plug for floor drain |
US5216757A (en) * | 1992-07-06 | 1993-06-08 | Joshua Dorkin | Knot simulating neck tie clasp |
US8813273B2 (en) * | 2004-09-17 | 2014-08-26 | Dlp Limited | Waste water outlet unit |
Cited By (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
USD749707S1 (en) * | 2013-02-07 | 2016-02-16 | Kaiping Xinmingguang Hardware Products Co., Ltd. | Floor drain |
WO2014186770A1 (en) * | 2013-05-16 | 2014-11-20 | Infra-Tect, Llc | Beveled insert for facilitating coupling pipes |
EP3031990A1 (en) * | 2014-12-11 | 2016-06-15 | HL Hutterer & Lechner GmbH | Floor drain |
Also Published As
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US9080324B2 (en) | 2015-07-14 |
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